New Ulm weekly review., 1887-03-16
ONE JULY AFTERNOON.
A STORY FOR FARMERS.

"Pm going to town, Mary" said
Mr.. Harris, as he rose from the din
ner-table and showed his chair noisily
across the room. "If you've any
thing to send, get it ready. quick"
'There's butter and eggs, answered
his wife. But ! was thinking -
"Well, get it ready, then. wouldn't
60, but bob's broke the rake, and it's
got to be fixed; and we have the rest
OF that hay to be put in before night;
and it looks like rain, too. I'll be
around in five minutes and I don't
want to have to wait. Put the eggs
in bran as l am going fast, and fix
the butter up right away" And he
turned and walked few steps, then
paused and called, "Make out a list
of what you really need, too"
II wish could have goner' sighed
Mrs. Harris, loud enough for her hus-
band to hear. He frowned dismally
Oh yes, that's the way! What on
earth do you want to go to town for?
It'll takeyou till sund wn to getready,
and the baby'd squall all the time.
Can't get every thing?"
"Oh, yes, suppose, know I can't
go; I've enough to do here, but I
thought, perhaps" Shepaused, and
her husband, as if waiting for the
pause, turned and walked quickly
away. Mrs. Harris thoughts were
busy enough as she hastened to the
cellar. "Oh, dear!" she sighed, II do
want calico dress out OF this butter
money, and it won't be twenty cents
! a pound much longer. I'm afraid
Will won't get it if ask him, but it
seems as if I could wear this no long
er it's so warm"
And she looked down at the faded
blue worsted that had been her best
once, but which had been worn all
winter and until now-July-nearly
all the time. TWAS very warm look.
ing dress, and on this afternoon
her flaming cheeks and moist
features did not need much to
assert how uncomfortable she was
for the day was very warm.
She was interrupted with an emphatic
"Whoa, now," from without before
the butter was quite ready. The ba-
by above, awakened by his fathers
loud voice, set up a loud scream, and
the same voice came down to the ner-
vous woman in impatient accents.
"Mary Jane? It does seem as if
women are getting awful slow. Icould
have done three times what YOU have
! in this time" he added, as she came
| up from the cellar with a heavy three
gallon jar in her arms. He sat in the
spring wagon composedly as she placed
the butter in. and watched hergo back
for and fetch the large basket OF eggs.
''Now what do you need?" he asked,
gathering up the lines.
She told him quietly, and then ner-
vously glancing into his face, she add
ed:
II guess :there'll be enough left for
some Calico
He looked amazed.
Calico! Did ever! What's that
for?"
"Me dress.''
Did her face look fearful? It was
unnoticed.
IA dress! Why, you don't need q
dress; you va got a dozen. What ails
that one? That'll last year yet.'
cit s so warm, Will, it nearly makes
me sick to wear it. If Ihad a calico
Just a cheapeone; ten yards will do
II could put this away for winter
again."
80 nonsense! Where's all that
glngham yoa got?''
She glanced at his own garments.
"Part OF itiston your own shoulders,
and the rest WAS used the same way
ryou and the children
He made mo- reply, except to CHR
rup to the horses and begin to turn
the wagon round. Then, catching a
glimpse of her face, something of his
better nature Of0r he was not a bad
man at hearth stirred within him,
and he said:
..xVeIl, Til see; may be I can get it;
and if I'd known ia be this late start
ing, Eou might have gone; 6hough I
don't see why you wanted to 60, for
taln't been three months since YOU
went to town and stayed half the aft
ernoon~ Get up, Gharlie!'' And he
was soen out of sight in q .cloud of
dust.
Mrs. Harris felt like sitting down on
the shady doorstep as she turned to
go in. but she knew she could not.
The baby had tired itself out crying,
and was just lying sobbing in the
cradle The dinner table Was just as
they left it, and that must be done be-
fore supper. She gave q glance to-
wards the green trees and white tomb
stones OF the graveyard close
BY, and suppressed quickly the
bitter sigh that arose at the
& ~ Il